Nouvelles

Dr. Samantha Nutt, Executive Director of War Child Canada, at Bishop's University

19 March, 2008

On Wednesday, March 19, 2008 Bishop’s University welcomed Dr. Samantha Nutt, Founder and Executive Director of War Child Canada, as the inaugural speaker in the Donald Speakers Series. This series is made possible as a result of a generous gift from John Donald ’60. The Donald Speakers Series will be Canada’s premier student run speaker series, bringing interesting, relevant, and influential speakers to campus.

Dr. Nutt spoke to an overflowing Bandeen Hall, sharing with the audience many of the life changing experiences she has had in some of the world’s most dangerous countries while working for War Child. Dr. Nutt emphasized the deplorable conditions so many of the world’s children are forced to deal with, and how devastating it is that they are exposed to war at such a young age; in fact for many war is the norm and they grow up with no idea of what is right or wrong.

While many may believe there is nothing “we” can do here to help stop the wars and human devastation that takes place daily in countries around the world, Dr. Nutt provided four concrete, attainable ways we can all affect change on a global level:

1. Become informed about international issues. Read at least one piece of international news each week.
2. Canada, as a country and as individuals, must provide support for international aid. Canada is falling well short of the standard Lester B. Pearson set in 1969 for Overseas Development Assistance.
3. Make incremental changes to your consumer and investment practices to improve their ethicality. Know where your money is going!
4. All that we do, or don’t do, here affects the rest of the world and the conflicts that are taking place. We are all connected; it is up to each of us to do our part to acknowledge and change that.

Dr. Nutt concluded that “we need to invest in peace at the expense of war, not in war at the expense of peace. These are our choices. Our decisions. Our legacies.”

A reception followed the presentation which allowed students and community members a chance to speak one on one with Dr. Nutt. 

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